Security in the Vesuvian area: Crime rates down in 14 municipalities

NAPLES – An overall improving situation, but still marked by critical issues that require constant attention. This is what emerged from the meeting of the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Safety, held in Ottaviano at the Palazzo Mediceo and chaired by the Prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, in the presence of the mayors of the Vesuvian area and the provincial heads of law enforcement agencies.

Data analysis shows a decrease in crime in fourteen municipalities, while a slight increase was recorded in six others. This is an encouraging sign, but one that does not warrant a relaxation of vigilance, especially in areas where prefectural ordinances establishing so-called red zones remain in effect. These measures allow the removal of individuals deemed dangerous and already known to law enforcement. In these areas, including Castellammare di Stabia, Torre Annunziata, and Pompeii, the measures adopted have already produced positive effects on urban safety and the usability of public spaces.

The meeting also addressed the difficulty municipalities are facing in strengthening their municipal police forces. Therefore, the prefect announced the possibility of evaluating a collaboration project between local police forces, with the aim of ensuring targeted interventions in emergency situations.

Particular attention has been paid to combating organized crime infiltration into the legal economy. Over the past two years, numerous anti-mafia prohibitions have been adopted against businesses operating in the most exposed sectors, such as construction, commerce, and funeral services, thus strengthening the protection of the healthy economic fabric. To support investigative efforts, the Vesuvian area has also undergone a significant upgrade of video surveillance systems, with the installation of over 1,500 cameras and license plate readers, financed through ministerial and local funds.

Finally, the Prefect of Bari reiterated the importance of continuing direct dialogue in the local communities, emphasizing that security cannot exist without ongoing dialogue between institutions, communities, and citizens, with a view to shared responsibility and improving the quality of life.